Pitching rules question

[manitoudan]

Too lazy to look it up , But it was my thoughts that BOTH feet must maintain contact with the pitchers plate when the P is starting her windmill --( I'm talking college here ) . The rocker foot for most pitchers starts toe or entire foot in contact with the plate and as she moves that foot isnt allowed to lose contact with the plate -- Correct ? Meaning she cant step back and then move forward . This weekend a girl was definetly moving that foot 2-4 on some pitches and I'm coaching first base and ask blue " Blue i'm seeing a few inches of daylight between her foot and the rubber , isnt that illegal " ? and he said " no it doesnt have to stay in contact with the plate as long as she isnt pushing off or gaining an advantage or some thing like that . Is he right ?

 

[Comp]

If you are talking college, they do state both feet have to be in contact with the pitching plate, but there is a statement as I recall about when the pitcher drops the heel of the stride foot and there is a hole the toe can break contact with the plate. But, that does not mean they can actually move the foot backward.

If the umpire used the term not gaining an advantage, that is one of my pet peeves. First off the rule book says nothing about gaining or not gaining an advantage, and besides how the heck would the umpire know if they arent gaining an advantage until they force the pitcher to pitch legally?

 

[Fairman]

She isn't allowed to pick up the pivot foot and replant it... It has to be blatant to get an illegal pitch call at any level.

The pivot foot usually starts in front of the rubber but in contact and in the process of pitching usually twists away from the Pitcher's plate a few inches. The field umpire is not in a good position at any time to even see the pivot foot and its relationship to the rubber. The plate umpire has to much going on to ever focus on the pitcher's feet. If she doesn't show daylight, perhaps a hop with the twist (over and over again) you will never-ever get this call.

You need to be looking for lighting, you have a better chance at that than an illegal pitch call.

 

[manitoudan]

I'm talking the left foot for a RHP . Is that also what you meant fairman ? I know the plate ump cant see that foot going several inches behind the plate but the 1B ump sure could . I dont mind an inch or two , I'm talking clear space between plate and her toe during the windmill.

 

[lewam3]

I'm talking the left foot for a RHP . Is that also what you meant fairman ? I know the plate ump cant see that foot going several inches behind the plate but the 1B ump sure could . I dont mind an inch or two , I'm talking clear space between plate and her toe during the windmill.

Yes, left toe has to be in contact when pitching motion starts. DD got called on that this season in colege and it was a pop foul ball out too...

 

[manitoudan]

Yeah Blue didnt know the dang rule !

 

[cz fastpitch fan]

IMO:

Drive foot=foot that stays on the rubber & she uses to drive out into her stride.
Plant foot=the foot that lands closest to the batter at the end of her stride or step, also her glove hand foot.

The plant foot cannot move backwards away from the pitching rubber at any time in the motion or this is an illegal pitch. She would be gaining an advantage, because she in essence is creating her own "walk-through" motion, which gains extra speed.
All pitchers have done walk-throughs or run throughs as part of their pitching warm-ups or workouts. Those pitches are usually faster than the regular pitch, because of the extra momentum of the body.
Can't have it.
Illegal.

I recently saw a video of a pitcher for a very high level team that is going on to college. Her drive foot actually picks up from the rubber and steps a few inches in front of the rubber during her motions.
What the????
Illegal!!

 

[FastBat]

Are you talking about twisting that foot off the pitchers plate? If so, it's legal, but the pitcher isn't gaining an advantage. The pitcher needs to move all her energy forward, so moving sideways, would be counter productive. And unless the pitcher is moving foot backwards off plate, or using a step back, it's legal.

And FWIW, how large of an advantage would the pitcher gain from moving backwards? This really is not necessarily measurable. Some Pitcher's have very poor mechanics, yet for some reason, they can really throw well. If you watch college, some of those girls don't have "proper" form, and they are considered the best of the best. Next time you watch college ball, an easy mechanics error to spot, is the glove arm swimming. I still think pitchers should be called, when pitching illegally, but more for their own benefit. Good luck!

 

[FastBat]

If the umpire used the term not gaining an advantage, that is one of my pet peeves.

One of mine too!

 

[manitoudan]

Are you talking about twisting that foot off the pitchers plate? If so, it's legal, but the pitcher isn't gaining an advantage. The pitcher needs to move all her energy forward, so moving sideways, would be counter productive. And unless the pitcher is moving foot backwards off plate, or using a step back, it's legal.

And FWIW, how large of an advantage would the pitcher gain from moving backwards? This really is not necessarily measurable. Some Pitcher's have very poor mechanics, yet for some reason, they can really throw well. If you watch college, some of those girls don't have "proper" form, and they are considered the best of the best. Next time you watch college ball, an easy mechanics error to spot, is the glove arm swimming. I still think pitchers should be called, when pitching illegally, but more for their own benefit. Good luck!

I'm not talking any type of twist , I'm talking a RPH stepping back slightly with the left foot as she starts her windmill. We seem to be in agreement in HS play the step back is LEGAL , but in ASA and college play there is no allowing a lose of contact with that left foot in a step or slight slide back in an attempt to gain some additional momentum as the P goes forward. The rules state BOTH feet should stay in contact with the plate as the windmill is started . Like I said wouldnt complain about something minute , but this girl was getting away several inches .

 

[Fairman]

In HIGH SCHOOL and Little League the pitchers back foot does NOT have to be in contact with the Pitching rubber. She can take a full step back and walk through the pitch as long as the front foot doesn't leave the ground. The rule in College and all known travel ball is that the back foot must remain in contact with the rubber. She can certainly rock back but can not loose contact with the pitching rubber. BUT that rule doesn't apply to HIgh School Ball.

 

[Stedman00]

but she cannot step backwards after her hands have come together.